A strangely familiar scene appeared in front of Seo Jinwoo, who woke up at the sound of an alarm. The yellow wallpaper and stale semi-basement smell were not the Jamsil Tower Residence where he lived.
Seo Jinwoo was confused.
‘What is this? I’m definitely— dead.’
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
As Seo Jinwoo left the room, he saw a familiar face looking down at their cell phone.
“Bear! Seongjun! You’re alive!” Seo Jinwoo runs and hugs Na Seongjun.
But Na Seongjun frowned at him and said, “Ah, brother, are you— sober enough? What is it?”
“Huh?”
Strangely, Na Seongjun’s face looked very young. Immediately, Seo Jinwoo ran to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and freaked out.
“What the hell is this—?”
“What? Did you get vomit on your face?”
“I-is this dream?”
Seo Jinwoo recalled his memory.
He had died, and the status window message he saw just before he died was…
“Revival?”
Na Seongjun came to the bathroom.
“Brother, are you saying that I put the money I collected last month into coin1? This is bad. Please wait a little bit—.”
“Coin? Are you doing coin again?”
“What? I learned this from a college student—”
“Hey, what’s the date today? No, just give me your phone.”
Seo Jinwoo, who stole Na Seongjun’s cell phone, saw the screen with the date: March 31, 2025.
‘We’re back in the past?’
Seo Jinwoo sat on the sofa and left Na Seongjun behind with a worried look. He recalled his memory once again.
‘I’m ten years in the past. Then tomorrow—’
*******
April 1, 2024.
Towers rose throughout the world.
Even with all kinds of methods, the doors of these Towers would not open. And on the same day, a portion of the human race awakened as players.
Each awakened player could open the door of a Tower through a message they received from their status window. The interior was divided into floors. And each floor was inhabited by monsters.
“The end is near! A Tower arose to judge humanity!”
Some religious communities made a noise about the end times, but fortunately, monsters never came out.
However, a player who killed the monsters and raised their level displayed a strong power beyond conventional weaponry.
They evolved into moving tactical weapons.
A year after the Tower appeared is when Seo Jinwoo returned.
*******
Seo Jinwoo, who had sat for a while and understood the situation, rose from his seat.
“I’m heading out for a little while.”
“Brother, where are you going?”
“To older brother.”
‘I’m going to see that b*stard.’
Seo Jinwoo left the semi-basement house and went to Seocho-dong. He sat face to face with Ha Jaehak, the head of the Unity guild, on the 25th level of the office building.
“What exactly are you doing here? People are here.”
“Is there anywhere I can’t go?” The remarks of Seo Jinwoo heightened the tension.
“You hated coming here,” Ha Jaehak sipped his coffee slowly.
‘This son of a b*tch….’
His heart raced when he saw Ha Jaehak in front of him.
A year ago, some members of the gang, including him, awakened as players. They smashed through floors quicker than everyone else, and they even dressed up in the fancy equipment guilds wore, just like those with a violent spirit.
“Older brother, what is your level?”
“What about me? I’m already at 30.”
‘This isn’t the time. I can’t kill you,’ Seo Jinwoo mumbled, staring at Ha Jaehak.
“I have come to put an end to this life.”
“What do you mean? Why all of a sudden? Are you tired these days?”
“No, my older and younger brothers have both awoken, so I’m going to do something different.”
Ha Jaehak let out a soft sigh. “But won’t you awaken if you wait a bit longer? I advised you to keep yourself healthy till then. As soon as you awaken, I’ll level you up to complete the course.”
“I appreciate you saying that. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help to you, Brother.”
“I have a plan. All you have to do is wait and see.”
“While collecting money from merchants in the market?”
Ha Jaehak set down the coffee he was drinking and replied to Seo Jinwoo’s remark.
“Your mouth is filthy, you b*stard… Do you think you can talk like that?”
“Why? Did I say something wrong? I can’t keep performing these kinds of jobs any longer.”
Seo Jinwoo rose from his seat.
“Wow… Okay. It’s not hard to find f*cking losers like you. You son of b*tch, I treated you like family because I was affectionate… Now I’m done. Get lost.”
“Yeah, I’m going. Goodbye. Well, let’s just say one word on the way out… Isn’t it embarrassing to take a name as a small-fry guild?” Seo Jinwoo said with a smile.
“Don’t show yourself to me again, you son of a b*tch.”
The world has become better. If it was like that in the past… you know? Just letting go is regarded as grace and living well.”
And so Seo Jinwoo’s career in the organization came to an end, and he departed the Unity guild.
‘April 1st. I will awaken tomorrow. And only I know what will happen in the future.’
Closing the gap between Ha Jaehak demands sweeping up all of the unique items and skills.
‘I will murder you in the worst possible way.’
Na Seongjun stood in front of Seo Jinwoo, who had returned to the semi-basement room.
“I received a call, brother. What on earth is going on here? Are you truly going to quit living that way?”
“That’s what happened. Brat… It’ll be better in about nine years.”
Na Seongjun’s nickname is Grumpy Bear. He’ll awaken tomorrow, too.
“And in nine years, you’ll be out of business.”
“Brother, what’s wrong with you? Is it because I put the money I collected into coin? I’ll take it out right away.”
“It’s not like that. Anyway, remember, nine years.”
He can’t tell him the details. He should minimize the butterfly effect.
He hopes that Bear, who will die on the same day just because they’re close, will live well.
“Brother… Please wait.”
Bear went out and called someone.
Seo Jinwoo sat down and began making plans for the future.
“Damn it, I should have memorized the lotto numbers.”
Indeed, who would live to believe that there would be a return? Still, he roughly remembers significant events, well-known products, and skill information reported by the media, even how to acquire them.
Step by step, he planned for the future, but Bear returned.
“Brother, I’ve also said that I’ll quit.”
“What?” Seo Jinwoo’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t even need to meet older brother. I just called, and he said that if he saw me, he’d kill me.”
“You brat. Why did you do that?!”
Na Seongjun replied as he glanced at Seo Jinwoo. “I began living my life because I only saw you, brother. We didn’t have the same blood, but we grew up together in the orphanage and felt we were brothers.”
“Sigh, such a moron… Yes, I understand. Go, take a rest. Is that some kind of coin? Sell it as soon as possible, deposit the money, and shake it off. Don’t abandon it in a terrible state.”
Seo Jinwoo and Na Seongjun had a busy day cleaning up the leftovers from their time in the organization. And even when he went to bed, he was busy sorting through his memories.
‘Tomorrow at 9 o’clock, I will awaken.’
Awakening.
He has no idea what it has to do with the Tower, yet nine transcendental creatures select some humans as players.
Although it differs from player to player, Transcendent Beings choose them through a combination of their life perspectives, beliefs, personalities, dispositions, and the lives they have lived in general.
You can not reject the Transcendental Being’s choice of you being a player. And with awakening, the Transcendental Being becomes your sponsor and grants unique skills.
‘I was an Abyss Companion.’
Sponsors rate players from S to F, with different levels of interest and support.
‘Companion of the Abyss. Class B.’
Grade B is high enough to raise your level, learn unique skills, and he can do so with anyone.
Seo Jinwoo was awakened and lived as a hitman who did not join a guild but instead assassinated players. There were various reasons for the assassinations, including political necessity and item theft.
‘Thanks to that, I know who has the items and where they are.’
The guild only wanted the results. Various information obtained during the disposal process was left alone.
The following morning at 8:55 a.m., Seo Jinwoo woke up the sleeping Bear and prepared for his awakening.
‘Still, if it’s grade A….’
[Congratulations!]
[You have been selected as a player.]
[Waiting for sponsors…]
“Ooh, Whooaaa!”
He hears the screaming of Bear pooping in the bathroom.
Seo Jinwoo waited calmly. A message from the sponsors is coming soon.
[Sponsor has been decided.]
[Agent of Compassion and Sacrifice has chosen you.]
[You have been given an S Class.]
[The awakening process ends.]
“What?”
Something is wrong.
Sponsor.
There are sponsors of tanker positions such as “Bridge Supporting the Earth,” and there are sponsors of the support positions like archers and wizards known as”Pioneers of Hunting and Tracking” and “Source of Knowledge” respectively.
There are also supporting positions like “Companion of the Abyss” and “Medium of Death,” which Seo Jinwoo belonged in.
‘Agent of Compassion and Sacrifice… It’s a healer?’
Roles aren’t set. However, they provide unique skills if divided into a tanker, supporter, and healer position.
‘That’s why Companion of the Abyss and I were a good match…’
Again, it’s known that sponsors select players by combining such things as the player’s view of life, beliefs, and dispositions.
‘Hey there? Don’t you think something is wrong?’
[Agent of Compassion and Sacrifice is pleased to see you]
[Medium of Death laughs grimly]
[Infinite Greed feels anger]
[Companion of the Abyss stares at the Agent of Compassion and Sacrifice.]
“Huh?”
Players can only interact with their sponsors. Usually, that is…
‘Why am I…?
[Source of Knowledge looks at you coldly.]
[One Who Rushes like a Storm laughs openly.]
“Brother! Brother!”
Bear jumped out of the bathroom without pulling up his pants.
“Hey! This… Clean up, then come out!”
“Oh, sorry. Brother, that’s not it.”
Bear went into the bathroom and shouted while cleaning up with a tissue. Dirty brat, close the door.
“Brother, I awakened! I’m a player!”
“Oh, right, well done.”
“Brother… what’s wrong with you?”
“I awakened too.”
“Wow! Brother!”
Instead of cleaning, Grumpy Bear ran to Seo Jinwoo.
“Ugh… in a bad way. Hey, but have you been chosen by Bridge Supporting the Earth?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“Class A?”
“Uh… yes, Brother. Oh, you’re clairvoyant?”
Nothing has changed. Grumpy Bear remains the same as Seo Jinwoo’s memory. Na Seongjun, an A-class tanker, which suits his honest personality.
“By the way, who were you chosen by?”
“Agent of Compassion and Sacrifice.”
“Wow… What?”
Bear’s eyes trembled.
Both personality and sponsor should match each other.
The effect of the healer role allowed for this assumption. There should have been many healers, but there weren’t. That’s what everyone says. Those selected were usually Catholic priests and monks who lived in isolated mountains. Only those who were one with the world; or will sagely nod their heads at anyone’s glances were chosen by the Agent of Compassion and Sacrifice.
‘But they’re useless.’
Knowing that monsters weren’t running around outside and being useless in expeditions inside, except for a few, most of them went back to their day jobs. Naturally, everyone set a clear strategy: exclude the healers.
‘I’ve never seen a healer before.’
“Brother, isn’t that a healer position?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“No, but why… Brother’s religion… Are you religious?”
“You brat…”
Bear’s neck shrank when Seo Jinwoo tried to hit him.
“Or what… V-volunteer work? Charity? Do you do anything like that?”
“Sigh, let’s not talk about it.”
‘Status’
[Seo Jinwoo]
– Level: 1
– Sponsor: Agent of Compassion and Sacrifice (S)
– Ability:
[Skills]
[Healing, Shield of Faith]
[Healing]
– Grade: Unique
-Recovers the target’s disease and wounds.
[Shield of Faith]
– Grade: Unique
– Creates a shield that absorbs damage to the target.
‘Yeah… Leveling and finding items will be fast anyway.’
There were no restrictions on learning skills. It was good enough to find and learn the skills he’s good at doing. Seo Jinwoo decided to think positively.
“Let’s go report and register for now.”
“Yes, Brother. I feel like I’m dreaming right now.”
“Before you go, wash up. Especially your butt.”
The smell hit his nose.